Nearly all descendants of Sampson Underhill claim Captain John Underhill as his ancestor, but research does not reveal the connection.

If Sampson descended from Captain John, he would have had to have been his grandson. Capt. John left northeastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire and was residing in Stamford CT prior to October 1642. It would seem that all of his children were too young to have been left behind, and the period of his stay in NH was too short to form lasting attachments.

Charles Bell, who wrote the History of Chester NH in 1863, distinctly states that Sampson Underhill was born in England and emigrated to Ipswich MA; he must have had some reason for making this statement.

Sampson Underhill first appears in the available public records in Essex County MA land records, when on 2 January 1716/7 he, styled clothier, purchased from Ebenezer Hackett of Salisbury MA, cordwainer, for 105 pounds, his homestead and about 35 acres of land in Salisbury, and had for his neighbors Robert Carr, James Purrington and Jacob Bradbury. The sale was agreed upon by Hackett's wife, Hannah, and acknowledged 9 May 1717 (Liber 28, p281).

The Archives of the State of New Hampshire show that on 3 April 1717, Samson, of Salisbury MA, conveyed to Samuel Smith of Haverhill MA his right to the common land in Kingston NH which is certainly convincing that he must have been in Kingston before residing in Salisbury (V13 p247).

On 8 May 1717 he sold the above property to Jacob Bradbury, retaining four acres, which included the dwelling house, barn and orchard. The description of the boundaries are about the same, except he adds the name of Nathaniel Ambrose as a neighbor. (Liber 28, p379). On 30 September 1717 he conveyed the four acres to Thomas Flanders (Liber 67, p104).

On 28 November 1717, Samson Underhill of Salisbury MA, received land and buildings in Hampton NH from James and Mary Hall of that place, indicating contemplated removal (V10 p131). However, Essex County land records show that on 14 June 1720 he was still in Salisbury, when he and his wife Elizabeth conveyed 11 acres there to William Dannels, tanner (Liber 38, p92). On 10 December 1722 he purchased five acres in Salisbury from Jacob Hook in the "Cow Common so called", bounded on the north by his own land (Liber 44, p217). He sold this property 6 September 1723 to Samuel Fowler "late of Amesbury, now of Salisbury." (Liber 31, p88)

On 2 January 1723/4, the NH land records state that Samson and Elizabeth Underhill of Salisbury MA convey to Nicholas Perryman, shopkeeper of Exeter NH, all their right or equity that he should have in the estate of David Leavitt, late of Exeter, conveyed 12 December 1723, by Edward West and wife Alice of Hampton. This deed suggests a relationship to the Leavitt family, but a search has not discovered the connection.

Sampson Underhill of Salisbury conveyed to Gideon Counn (?) on 21 September 1726 all his right, etc, that he has or ought to have in the real and personal estate which he bought of Cornelius Couer, deceased, which was his and part his mother's, Elizabeth Couer, her thirds, as widow of John Couer (Liber 50, p67).

Nathaniel Ambross of Salisbury MA on 20 December 1724 sold to Samsom Underhill certain land in that place "situated near ye province line between MA and NH, which my father Henry Ambross lived upon and died seized upon", consisting of 28 acres with dwelling house "bounded easterly by land of Benjamin Gill; to enjoy after the death of my mother Susanna Ambross - lease to said Underhill the farm during the life of his said mother Susanna" (Liber 47, p263).

Samson Underhill, clothier of Salisbury, on 1 November 1725 conveyed for 80 pounds to John Webster and Ephraim Eaton of the same place, "which money the said Webster and Eaton (hired of the Rev Mr Theophilus Cotton of Hampton) stand bound for the payment of same which money the said Underhill received for his

use" - convey "my homestead land where I now dwell in Salisbury." (Liber 47, p264).

On 26 June 1727, Sampson Underhill of Salisbury conveyed to Samuel Hutchins of the same place, a farm there, near the Province line between MA and NH which formerly belonged to Mr Henry Ambross, "saving the old home in which said Henry lived." This was acknowledged 3 January 1727/8 in the Province of NH (liber 54, p42).

Samson Underhill of Salisbury, alias Hampton, purchased land in Chester of Peter Weare of Hampton on 27 March 1730. (NH Archives, v21 p322).

The manuscript of H.B. Underhill states that "on April 1 1730, Sampson Underhill sold his farm of 50 acres in Salisbury MA, upon which he had lived and kept tavern, for 500 pounds and went to Chester NH where he bought Lot No. 28 and settled. This lot was situated on the south side of the road nearly opposite the present location of the Congregational Church and on the main street of the village as it now is."

On 28 September 1731, Samson of Chester NH conveyed to Page Bachelder land there (NH Archives, v51 p364).

Sampson Underhill was apparently ill at this time, for he replied to an order to appear before the Court on 7 December 1731, he wrote: "I am very much lame in my hips and knee yt I cannot ride on a horse nor gett up on a horse but in very much pain to me."

On 27 March 1732, Elizabeth Underhill, widow of Samson, of Chester, received land there from William Powell. (NH Archives v29 p146).

The probate records of the Province of New Hampshire show that on 15 May 1732, Elizabeth Underhill was appointed administratrix of the estate of her husband, Sampson Underhill (NH Probate Records, Volume 2). Elizabeth Underhill gave bond, with Jacob Stanyan and Joseph Norton both of Hampton NH as sureties, for the administration of her husband's estate 15 May 1732 (Volume 13, Page 194). An inventory was taken 13 May 1732 by Jacob Sargent and Samuel, showing the value of the estate as 493 pounds 19 shillings 6 pence.

In the settlement filed 25 August 1742, expenses were asked for and allowed to: "bringing up a son named Hezekiah for 4-1/2 years; to bringing up another son named Moses for 6-1/2 years; to the maintaining, supporting and clothing a sick son named Jeremiah for 10 years as he having fits, in one of them he fell into the fire and burned his hand so that it is useless." On 25 August 1742 the executors were licensed to sell the real estate.

DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Sampson by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share DNA with Sampson:

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